Testimonials

Anne is calm and confident.  I knew that if my anxiety crept in, her calmness would be what I needed.  I knew that if I started to feel like I was losing control or started doubting myself, she would give me confidence.  I knew I could rely on her to see beyond policy and procedure so she could ensure I had all the information, risks, benefits and alternatives to make fully informed choices that were right for me and my baby.  She was able to pick up what my triggers were so she could step in to support me.  She was not only understanding of my wishes, but was able to adapt and support them as my birth plans and environment changed.  I loved having her to be a part of my daughter’s birth. 

This was our 3rd baby, the first two births had been traumatic both involving severe perineal tears. Despite this my gut instinct was to try a normal delivery again but wasn’t sure how to make it any different from before. I was reading the positive birth book and it said about doulas and how continuity of care before, during and after birth improved parents overall experience ( not just birthing lady but partner too). This made so much sense to me, it is such an important time and you remember every detail so well. Why not invest some money in someone to be focused solely to support you and be your advocate. So we searched for local doulas and found Anne.  Anne responsed very quickly and arranged to meet us. Immediately on meeting her I felt comfortable and cared for. She listened to our previous experiences and concerns about this pregnancy and birth with empathy.  Deciding to have Anne support us is one of the best choices we have made. 

We arrived at hospital and met Anne there,  she was great at helping communicate with hospital staff. I wanted to labour in the birth pool but staff felt there may not be time.  Anne suggested beginning to run the water and see how we got on. We ended up having a beautiful water birth which wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Anne.

She was a big support to my partner. I know he felt empowered and confident with her support. He truly was the “Guardian of oxytocin”!!

She helped with all the small things that we wanted but wouldn’t have been able to do during labour to keep birth calm, natural, lighting, music, lavender, took photos etc. 

Anne is very experienced and I would highly recommend her services. She is a lovely person and will always be very important to us. Anne is passionate about her work and I know she was genuinely overjoyed and honoured to be part of our journey. 

After this birth I felt euphoric, empowered, proud and connected.  It was one of the best experiences of my life.

I had an amazing experience with Anne from start to finish. I would not go through birth without a doula in future. From educational support before birth (going through all the details you miss in the NHS zoom calls, taking questions, helping to create a birth plan), to practical support during birth (from ensuring I was hydrated to advocating for my choices with midwives when I was unable to speak), to emotional support before, during and after birth, Anne went above and beyond what we expected- she is very passionate and extremely knowledgeable about all things birth. I feel that the lack of information pregnant women are given actually limits our autonomy and choice during our birthing experience and can often lead to outcomes we don’t want. Working with a doula is one lever to ensure you are fully equipped with all the information you need to feel ready for birth- and that you have someone with you to advocate for the choices you have made and a familiar face to support you and your partner. Anne provides the service she describes but there are so many extra things she does to make things easier and more pleasant for you, for example, bringing us food and snacks in those first daunting weeks with a new baby, bringing little toys for our baby and never forgetting the new mum with bath herbs and special teas. We absolutely loved working with Anne and have strongly recommended her and doula services in general to all our friends. My husband said the two things we would never do without during birth are a doula and a TENS machine! Thank you Anne, we will never forget how you helped us, you really became a part of the family.

First time mother and so glad I made the decision to have a doula.  Honestly, I could not imagine going through my labour without Anne.  My birth plan changed massively once I arrived at the hospital and everything I was afraid of happening happened.  But I was so grateful Anne was there.  She kept my anxiety at bay and walked me through everything that was happening around me and kept me calm and relaxed.  She has made what I would have believed to be a traumatic birth otherwise into a special moment that I will never forget.  Would highly recommend!

Our hypnobirthing sessions with Anne totally equipped us for our birth, and gave me the confidence to make my own decisions around my options whilst in labour. Although my birthing experience wasn’t what I’d hoped for, the breathing and relaxation techniques I had learnt and applied helped me through labour with only gas and air and the knowledge gained from the sessions helped me to make the right and safe decisions quickly for delivering our daughter in the end. Without Anne I would not have had the confidence to stand up for myself and stand my ground. Anne’s guidance was invaluable and prepared us for this journey and her support afterwards goes above and beyond.

Having Anne as our doula genuinely changed our experience of pregnancy and birth.  From the first contact to the birth itself we felt completely comfortable with her, she truly went above and beyond to be available and supportive. She ‘got’ what we needed and we felt that however the birth went, we were in a much stronger place having her there with us.

My first birth was a very difficult experience for us and left me deeply anxious and worried in my next pregnancies. Despite a calm birth at home with our second child, I still found preparing for birth a third time stressful, so we considered finding a doula for the first time. Anne really understood where we were coming from and immediately had practical suggestions to support us through the pregnancy.

During the birth itself she kept me calm through a rapid labour, and remembered and reminded the midwives of my wishes discreetly. It made a whole hour with just us and our baby possible after our daughter’s birth, and will always be one of my happiest memories.
I wholeheartedly recommend her – whether it’s your first or fourth and wherever/however you hope to give birth having someone like Anne to support you makes such a difference. 

This was our second time having Anne as our doula. She offered us so much support antenatally which was invaluable. She facilitated a wonderful mother blessing which was so special. Her presence during the birth was calming and reassuring. It is so lovely to have the continuity through pregnancy and into postnatal care and also between pregnancies. Thank you so much Anne, the work you do is invaluable. I couldn’t recommend her care highly enough.

After much searching and reflecting, I met with Anne, a Doula whose patience and a passionate interest, support and experience in the wellbeing of women before, during and after childbirth meant I felt connected from the word go during our initial meeting during the latter part of my second trimester.

The presence of a Doula goes beyond a birthing partner for me as also meant a gentle mothering figure, someone to reach out to for help, touch or just a glance to when having strong waves of surges (contractions). Whilst I chose to have my third baby in hospital and without knowing how or when I would give birth , it was important that I had a holistic sense of well-being and felt the natural side to the birthing of the baby even if in  what can be sometimes a clinical environment and I felt it was a Doula that can prompt you with all these things and help in any options that you may have to think about and above all remain calm and focussed.

Also having the practical help as a woman in the final stages needing extra help with the logistics of moving alongside the help and support of the midwives too. For me, it was and still is important to embrace the natural side of childbirth in all its stages in pregnancy and I found that a Doula can empower you as a woman and fill in the gaps of knowledge you may need to prepare you for birthing your baby the best you can.

I could not have managed without Anne at my side and she stayed a valuable 4 hours afterwards into the early hours of the morning and found the Doula support a healing and nurturing experience, something I would definitely have again and thoroughly recommend.

I hadn’t heard of doulas until I was listening to a podcast after my first, very traumatic experience of birth. When I found out I was pregnant again one year later, I knew I would need the emotional support and security of having a Doula. I contacted Anne early in my pregnancy and was immediately struck by her deep knowledge and passion about birth. I decided to deliver in the Active Birthing Centre at the Royal hoping that we would be able to create a beautiful calm space for birthing my second baby. We also opted to do the hypnobirthing course to help prepare.

When the day came, I was having irregular surges all day and assumed it was early labour – that evening my waters broke and we called Anne. Soon after she arrived, I started trying to get ready to go to the hospital but once I changed positions things started moving very quickly and I could feel the baby moving down. I wasn’t going anywhere! Anne began helping me through surges which were right on top of each other and my husband left the room to ring the ambulance. A few minutes later my daughter was born. I was in complete shock but Anne reassured us that everything was fine and was able to guide us through the next steps after birth until the ambulance arrived. Anne turned what otherwise would have been a terrifying experience into a beautiful moment that I will always cherish. After the birth we were able to get a full golden hour with our baby in my own bed and started feeding within the first half hour.  

I had hoped for a drug-free, natural birth but wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it – the emotional support provided by a doula is the most powerful drug I have experienced, without the side-effects! I couldn’t recommend Anne more. She has a wonderful calm, reassuring presence and is very knowledgeable about all aspects of birth.

This was my fourth baby, my second VBAC and the first one to have a doula, and Anne was exactly what I was looking for.  I wanted a natural birth – as natural as I could get, as I had to have my baby in the hospital.  We were very comfortable with Anne from the first time we met.  She gave us alot of information that we didn’t know; about my rights, and natural ways to deliver, and cope with labour.

While in labour, Anne just said and did everything I needed her to do.  I had the quick natural drug-free birth that I wanted.  We would highly recommend Anne to anyone who was considering employing a doula.